The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-05-12
A DIAMOND STORY.
1ho Clever Work N"w Accomplished by
Dishonest LarilarIes.


A well known diamond dealer. WIN
has become IN expert from many years
handling OF precious stones, was near
iy taken IN few DAYS ago by Il snrewd
diamond shark, whose new scheme de-
serves attention, rs it is likely to be at
tempted in some other quarter The
dodge consists in trying to palm off n
cleverly ''doctored" diamond as a very
valuable stone and In telling plausible
and picturesque story to give it coun-
tenance.
1he short stout man, with q griZzlcd,
gray mustache, who tried TO victimizc
the leweler in question, brought to him
an elegant-looking solitaire ring. pur-
porting to contain diamond OF unusual
size and brilliancy. To the eve even
OF the expert the stone looked all right,
and the man tried hard 10 make bar
gam with him at once, without pro-
ceedIng any further. As it looked, the
diamond was easily worth S2O0, and
the man, who told a tale of dire neces-
sity, offered to sell it for SIOO.
The story of the diamond as told by
the man. who gave the name of Charles
Harwood, was that it belonged origin
ally to the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia.
In December 1871, when the Grand
Duke, who was young and handsome,
attended the reception given in his
honor in the Academy of Music, an
episode accurred that attracted consid-
cradle attention at the time and has
been much talked of since.
Some time after the promenade, and |
when everything was in motion, the at |
tentlon OF the Duke. who had gone up
stairs with two of the gentleman of the
committee, was attracted by lady in |
one OF the corner rows of curtained |
balcony boxes There were but two
ladies in the box, one Of them an elder
ly lady and the other a tall, beautiful
young woman. about 20 years of age,
who had remarkably fine eyes, which
could not fail to be noticed.
The Grand Duke expressed desire to
be introduced, which was soon gratified,
and after standing for few moments
In front of the box he asked permission
TO 60 inside In little while he asked
the lady to go on the promenade, and
otherwise showed his pleasure at meet
ing her. but she mildly and persistently
refused.
As ne rose to 60, the Duke, holding
her hand n moment and slipping from
one OF his fingers diamond ring. pre-
sented 1t to her and asked her to keep |
it as souvenir Of the occasion. The
lady did so. and kept it for several
years, until at last she fell INTO reduced
circumstances and determined to get
rid of the ring in spite of its associa-
tions.
Such, in substance, are the facts of an
N ;aI, l,a al. |
the diamond 10 sell told his story. He
represented that the diamond he had
WAS the one given to tins lady, and he
very clearly to trace its his
tory to her. The jeweler, however, in.
sisted upon removing the stone from the Z
setting 10 examine it, and this the man
allowed him to do.
The mans willingness to do this very
nearly threw the jeweler off his guard 8
1t the last moment especially as upon Z
the stone he could see nothing
wrong with it Taking up microscope,
however. he was able to detect, with a 4
lose scrutiny, q slight variation in the =
quality and texture of the stone between
he middle portions and the ends.
Then he held the stone near a lamp,
nd in few minutes the whole nature
# the ingenious fraud dawned upon a
i'm. a small real diamond Of inferior "
luality formed the top and bottom, and
|. fine piece OF crystal had been sand
Yiched between them. adding nearly
en- times TO the value of the stone. II
lad been SO cleverly and ingeniously =
'ut together with colorless cement
hat 1t was almost beyond the power of
Ietection- The man. of course express ma
d surprise. and asserted that the dia- Z.
nond was just rs he received it-Tid- Ut
Iits. ne